What a silly, albeit engaging and sometimes interesting, piece of hokum this is. I suppose those more knowledgable in film and semiotics have already combed through the frames finding symbol upon symbol and constructing much (á la The Matrix) in the way of religious message and intent from this preposterous and stilted little vignette.
You all may have seen it already--people live in a village deep in the woods apparently some time in the 1800s judging by what's available to them. The woods are filled with creepy red-cloaked beasts that no one in the village has had the courage to stand up to even though they had to come through those self-same woods to establish this village. One of the villagers is attacked and needs medicines from "The Towns" and so an intrepid blind woman is sent out to brave the woods and bring back the medicine.
There's a whole series of things about the colors red and yellow and white, banners and pennants and all sort of rigamarole concerning certain rituals of the townspeople. There are some spooky moments. But largely there are people speaking in a highly ornate and contrived version of English, occasionally sounding utterly ludicrous.
The odd thing about it was that while all of this was true, I did enjoy the film. The director makes a beautiful film and some lasting images even when he is off-target (as he has been in at least two of his four films. Of the first I can say nothing having never seen it.) He tries so hard and his films are so bristling with symbolism and fraught with intended meanings its hard not to admire the effort even when it falls flat.
So, whether you pay attention to the symbols or not, dive into the alternative meanings or not. This is an enjoyable, fun film and worth your time.
You haven't seen The Sixth Sense? That's by far the best of the bunch. Unbreakable was alright, but Signs was awful, and I've heard that The Village is just as bad as Signs. You really should check out The Sixth Sense, if only because Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osmet do a great acting job.
Dear Jack,
Oh I don't know. As long as you didn't take its pretensions too seriously, I found Signs to be a hoot AND a specific against the Speilbergian Pillsbury Dough-Boy Alien Fetish that seems to creep into Hollywood from time to time. If nature is fallen, and one might include other groups of beings in that category, I find it far more probable that "first contact" would be more of this nature than of the "Klaatu Barada nikto" school of "We come in peace."
The village, as I said was stilted and tried WAY too hard, but for light entertainment, it was an okay spectacle.
shalom,
Steven
I apologize for this not being related to the actual blog I am commenting to.
I am attempting to get the word out about a serious issue in St. Louis. My idea is to post to every catholic blog that I can in the hopes that all catholics read this. At your next service please write a note and put it in the collection plate with your donation stating that this week you are helping St. Louis keep its churches open.
Please pray for Archbishop Raymond Burke for closing catholic churches throughout the City of St. Louis. For more info please go to...
www.urbanreviewstl.com
some churches to be closed:
St. John Nepomuk
St. Francis De Sales
St. Cecilia
St. Hedwig
Resurrection
among others (16 total I believe).
To write, send letters to
Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
Archdiocese of St. Louis
4445 Lindell Boulevard
63108
Thank you for your time. Jason
Steven, your comment about the "We come in peace" alien thing was one reason that I thoroughly enjoyed the fluff that was Independence Day.
Plot holes the size of a cement mixer, but it was absolutely GREAT to see the aliens blast the loons who were on top of the building holding up welcome signs....
Truly, I'm not a bloodthirsty person (maybe?), but c'mon folks, doesn't it seem like there'd be at least a 50/50 chance the visitors would be evil????
Dear MamaT.
Agreed absolutely. I enjoyed that one thoroughly too. Although it is the subject of recurrent nightmares since childhood for me.
The second film that I saw from those producers was equally fun in an idiotic sort of way--I reviewed that below. The Day After Tomorrow is certainly one of the worst films I have ever seen, becoming a risible lunacy akin to the unspeakably awful Dante's Peak--one of my very favorite films! (For truly Bad Cinema).
shalom,
Steven
Well, having now watched The Village, I loved it.
Take that! :-)